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News Release

OPM Director Kay Coles James Says Interest in Government Positions is High

Individuals may submit online applications through December 8 for positions in the executive preparatory program

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has received 2659 online applications during the first three weeks of the vacancy period from individuals interested in becoming participants in the inaugural class of the Senior Executive Service Federal Candidate Development Program (FED CDP). Applications for the FED CDP are being accepted from current Federal employees and outside job seekers who wish to pursue an ambitious preparatory program into the Federal Senior Executive Service (SES). There are currently 1,714 applications in process.

Individuals wishing to compete for one of the coveted openings in the FED CDP can apply online at www.opm.gov/ses/fedcdp through December 8.

"The Federal Candidate Development Program will strengthen succession-planning efforts for the SES throughout government," said OPM Director Kay Coles James. "I challenge all Federal agencies to sponsor more FED CDP slots to meet the great demand of people's desire to serve. I am confident, if all agencies take part in this opportunity, the FED CDP program will usher in an era in which successive generations of men and women will be identified and readied to assume the responsibility of leadership in the Federal ranks."

Prior to the application acceptance period, nearly 2,300 Federal employees and other applicants used two OPM-administered websites to request e-mail updates and register their interest in the executive preparatory program.

The FED CDP website has since registered over 49,000 hits, while the www.usajobs.gov website has registered 139,557 hits on the vacancy announcement.

In addition to the online application, the FED CDP homepage provides links to an overview and duties of the program, as well as information on eligibility requirements and application procedures.

The Senior Executive Service is the Federal government's top cadre of managers. Its members manage many of the nation's most important programs in national security and defense; science and technology; agriculture and the environment; intelligence and information technology; and many other critical areas.

Participants in the FED CDP will be challenged by intensive formal training, competitive, real-life programs and mentoring relationships. Before graduating from the 14-month program, class members will demonstrate their leadership skills and agility as they are immersed in actual programs, requiring a demonstration of their problem-solving, team-building and people skills.

Our mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.